For Immediate Release 19 April 2005 Contact: Matthew Paton 020 7389 2965 [email protected] ALAN BALL’S 1966 WORLD CUP WINNER’S MEDAL UP FOR AUCTION AT CHRISTIE’S Football Memorabilia 19 May 2005, Christie’s South Kensington South Kensington– Christie’s is pleased to announce the sale of the Alan Ball Collection, which will include the FIFA World Cup Winner’s medal won by Alan Ball at the World Cup Final of 1966 (estimate: £80,000-120,000). Also on offer will be Alan Ball’s tournament cap from the 1966 World Cup (estimate: £15,000-25,000), a runners-up medal from the 1967/68 F.A. Cup (estimate: £2,000-3,000) and a Division 1 League Championship medal from the 1969/70 season (£3,000-5,000). All four lots will be offered in the sale of Football Memorabilia on 19 May, which will also offer the oldest existing F.A. Cup (see separate release). Alan Ball won 72 caps for England but his international career is best remembered for his energetic performance in the 1966 Word Cup Final at Wembley. At 21 years old, he was the youngest member of the team but he showed maturity and passion far beyond his years. It was his pass that set Hurst free for England’s ‘disputed’ third goal, and his influence throughout the extra-time period was fundamental to England’s victory. Alan Ball: ‘My wife passed away a year ago, and my priorities have changed since then. I have three children and three grandchildren, and the most important thing for me is to make sure that they are looked after as well as possible. It is always going to be impossible to split a medal three ways, so I have decided that the most sensible thing to do is to offer these items at auction, and use the proceeds to secure the future of my family. Winning the World Cup in 1966 will stay with me forever, but it is time to look to the future, not the past.’ David Convery, Head of Sporting Memorabilia at Christie’s: ‘Christie’s Sporting Memorabilia department has been involved with 1966 World Cup memorabilia on several occasions in the past, and it is a particular pleasure to be offering this collection. The auction of Football Memorabilia in May will also include the oldest existing F.A. Cup, which is considered to be the most important item of football memorabilia ever offered at auction. To offer a 1966 World Cup Winner’s medal and the F.A. Cup in our May sale demonstrates the continued growth of the Sporting Memorabilia market.’ Alan started his playing career with Blackpool in 1962/63. After winning the World Cup with England in 1966, he moved to Everton for a then British record fee of £110,000 and fast became a local hero. During his 5 years at the club, he made more than 230 appearances – these included the FA Cup final of 1967/68, in which Everton were narrowly beaten by West Bromwich Albion after an extra-time goal. The F.A. Cup runners-up medal awarded to Alan Ball after this match will be included in the sale (estimate: £2,000-3,000). Two years later, Everton stormed to the League Championship. The Division 1 League Championship medal awarded to Ball will also be offered at Christie’s in May (estimate: £3,000-5,000). Alan moved to Arsenal for another then British record fee of £220,000 in 1971, and he played there for 5 years with limited domestic success. He then moved to Southampton and on to the Vancouver Whitecaps, before joining Bristol Rovers and retiring from professional football in 1983. ### Images available on request Visit Christie’s at www.christies.com - TOP 5 PRICES FOR FOOTBALL MEMORABILIA AT CHRISTIE’S Christie’s have been holding sales dedicated to Football Memorabilia since 1989, and currently hold two annual sales at their salerooms in South Kensington, London. The following list shows the Top 5 prices realised for Football Memorabilia at Christie’s. 1. March 2002 Pele’s shirt from the 1970 World Cup Final £157,750 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A FOOTBALL SHIRT AT AUCTION 2. November 1996 Part of the Collection awarded to Wolverhampton £134,550 Wanderers and England Captain Billy Wright 3. March 2001 1966 World Cup Winner’s medal awarded to Gordon Banks £124,750 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A FOOTBALL MEDAL AT AUCTION 4. October 1993 Collection of medals, caps and shirts awarded to Ray Kennedy £101,200 5. September 2000 Geoff Hurst’s red football shirt from the 1966 World Cup Final £91,750 – Arguably the most important item of football history ever to be offered at auction, the second and oldest existing example of the F.A. Cup, will highlight Christie’s sale of Football Memorabilia on 19 May 2005 (estimate: £200,000- 300,000). This cup is the actual trophy presented to winning teams between 1896 and 1910 - and was lofted in victory as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City won the competition for the first time. A separate press release is available. .